Rams' Week 9 roster roundup: Alex Bachman's release doesn't mean he's gone

The Los Angeles Rams made a handful of minor transactions on Tuesday, headlined by the release of punt returner Alex Bachman. 

Before frustrated fans breathe a sigh of relief simply for the blind hope of change - how many times can we watch this return game turn something into nothing? -  the move may be more about practice squad elevation rules than an indication the team is moving on from him.

In a corresponding move, the Rams signed cornerback Cam Lampkin to the active roster; re-signed CB Nyzier Fourqurean to the practice squad; released practice-squad linebacker Garrett Nelson; and officially placed running back Dean Connors on injured reserve with a broken hand.

Rams may not be done with Alex Bachman, after all

No doubt the Rams could use an upgrade in the return game, but without any legitimate options on the roster, it does make sense to simply stash Bachman back on the practice squad assuming he clears waivers. 

The reason they would make the move, as many have pointed out, is that Lampkin has already exhausted his three practice squad elevations allowed by rule. LA presumably wanted him available for Week 9, perhaps due to the uncertain injury status of Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, and so their only choice was to sign Lampkin to the 53-man roster.

Bachman, on the other hand, first joined the group on gameday in Week 4, as Xavier Smith's replacement. If he makes it back to the practice squad, he'll have all three elevations left, buying LA time to find a longer-term solution.

That is the plan, right? 

Of course, it's possible the Rams have already decided to cut ties with Bachman. If anything he has been a downgrade from Smith, averaging 5.2 yards per punt return and under 22.9 yards on kickoffs. 

He just doesn't read the field well, rarely giving him a chance to put his speed, almost as good as Smith's, on display. That also has to do with poor coverage blocking from Rams special teams, but what else is new. 

As for the other moves

Connors' move to IR was expected after head coach Sean McVay revealed the injury on Monday. Apart from one 23-yard kick return, he's been deployed on special-teams coverage units. 

Lampkin has been minimally involved in his prior elevations. He was inactive once and only played five special-teams snaps in the other two games. If McDuffie or Watson can't go this week, and with special teamers Connors and Grant Stuard hurt, perhaps Lampkin gets more burn in some fashion moving forward. 

For many fans, learning of Nelson's release was the first time we knew he was on the roster in any capacity. Fourqurean's re-signing is interesting after the Rams released him in a batch of Week 8 transactions, but it's good to have the undrafted rookie back after a solid preseason. 

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